Didactic Labs

Students who successfully complete the Lab 1 and Lab 2 courses will be able to:

• perform measurements related to mechanics, thermology, geometrical optics, and rationalize the behavior of electronic circuits with analog or digital components, with specific instrumentation (also remotely controlled), and automatic data-acquisition hardware (Arduino open-source platform);
• estimate the uncertainties associated with measurements, and apply basic statistical tools to experimental data analysis;
• use computers to plot and analyze data, test the compatibility of measurements and models, write and execute a Python script for data analysis and presentation, use LaTeX for writing reports.

The two alternative courses, Laboratorio 3 and Tecnologie Digitali, provide equivalent in-depth coverage of the functioning of electronic devices and circuits—both analog and digital—as well as sensor technology. The Laboratory 3 course places greater emphasis on the understanding and design of circuits, and its program includes experiments that highlight both the classical and quantum aspects of matter (e.g., measurement of the e/m ratio, Franck-Hertz experiment, photoelectric effect). The Digital Technologies course focuses more on programming and automation techniques, and includes experiments ranging from classical physics (e.g., Lambert-Beer law, chaotic circuits) to modern physics (e.g., conductance quantization, spin resonance, rubidium spectroscopy).

Both courses and advanced laboratory, which can be taken as one of the elective courses.